State aid - Commission consults on review of EU state aid rules for regional aid

Le document n'est pas accessible en français.

The Commission has published a consultation via questionnaire to gather input for the review of the EU state aid rules applicable to regional aid. To recall, as a derogation to the general prohibition to grant the Treaty provides that state aid to promote regional development can, under certain conditions, be considered compatible with the internal market pursuant to Articles 107(3)(a) or (c) of the Treaty. The compatibility criteria to be fulfilled as regards such aid are defined by the European Commission and laid down in different texts:

• the Guidelines on national regional aid for 2007-2013, which lay down the provisions on the basis of which notified state aid granted in order to promote the economic development of certain disadvantaged areas within the European Union can be considered compatible with the internal market;

• the Communication concerning the criteria for an in-depth assessment of regional aid to large investment projects;

• the relevant provisions of Commission Regulation (EC) No 800/2008 of 6 August 2008 declaring certain categories of aid compatible with the common market in application of Articles 87 and 88 of the Treaty (General block exemption Regulation – GBER), which lay down, inter alia, the conditions under which regional State aid is considered to be compatible with the internal market without requiring prior notification to the Commission.

The Regional Aid Guidelines and the GBER will expire on 31 December 2013. In this context, the present public consultation offers stakeholders the opportunity to provide input to the Commission at an early stage of policy making. Member States and other interested parties are invited to express their views on the EU rules currently applicable to regional State aid and to suggest possible amendments to these rules.

The Commission will carefully analyse the outcome of this consultation before deciding to what extent changes to the current rules on regional State aid are necessary and will, if appropriate, come forward with a proposal for revised rules. This consultation is in principle limited to the abovementioned three texts (for the GBER, only the parts relevant for regional aid). Nevertheless, the Commission services are prepared to examine any other issues that may be relevant for State aid to promote the development of certain disadvantaged areas within the EU. Comments and information on other regional State aid matters are welcome, such as reports, studies, etc. which may be relevant.

Replies can be submitted in all EU official languages. Given the possible delays in translating comments submitted in certain languages, translations of the replies in English, French or German would enable the Commission to process them more rapidly. The deadline for replies is 26/04/2012. Replies should be sent to: European Commission, Public consultation regional aid, DG COMP Unit H-1, 1049 Brussels, BELGIUM or preferably by e-mail to stateaidgreffe@ec.europa.eu, in both cases indicating reference HT.3127 Public consultation regional aid.

Source: European Commission, DG Competition Web-site

Link: http://ec.europa.eu/competition/consultations/2012_regional_stateaid/index_en.html